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Question
It's 5:30 a.m. EDST in Orlando, FL, and I am observing something curious in the morning sky. Almost directly in line with Orion's belt, but quite a bit south, it is constantly and brightly flashing and changing colors, and even seems to totally extinguish at times, if only for a few nanoseconds. Can you tell me what it is?
John.
Its the brightest star in the sky, the star Sirius.
When bright stars are close to the horizon, they "twinkle" a lot with colors. This is due to the Earth's atmosphere.
Hope you are drying out down there.
Steve
http://www.look-to-the-skies.com
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Answers by Expert:
Steven LJ Russo
Expertise
As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.
Experience
Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.
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